14 SOILS OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES. 



rather favorable. It is believed that the commercial production of 

 Irish potatoes upon this type in northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin, 

 and eastern Iowa might well be extended. 



Fruit crops. Throughout the central prairie region in which the 

 Knox silt loam is developed in rolling areas along the streams the 

 type constitutes a valuable soil for the planting of apple orchards 

 upon such areas as are not eliminated by too steep slopes or by ex- 

 cessive erosion. In central Missouri hundreds of acres of the type 

 have been successfully planted to orchards, and in certain locations in 

 Illinois large commercial orchards have also been set upon this soil. 

 In all of these instances the growth of the trees themselves has been 

 good, the orchards have come into bearing at an early date, and the 

 quality of fruit produced has been good to excellent. Provided the 

 proper varieties are selected for planting, and these will vary with 

 the climatic conditions of any given locality, the Knox silt loam con- 

 stitutes one of the best soils for apple orcharding to be found in the 

 central prairie States. Those areas, however, which are flat, poorly 

 drained, or of insufficient elevation to secure adequate air drainage 

 should not be devoted to this purpose. Locally pears, plums, and 

 peaches are also successfully grown upon the type, and they ma}- be 

 used for interplanting with apple trees as well as for independ- 

 ent planting throughout the areas where the type occurs east of the 

 Missouri River. 



FARM EQUIPMENT. 



For its proper tillage the Knox silt loam requires the use of rather 

 heavy teams and of the heavier types of power machinery. The 

 thorough stirring of the surface soil to a considerable depth, the fre- 

 quent tillage of the soil for the production of such crops as corn and 

 tobacco, and the proper seeding and harvesting of large areas of the 

 small grains all require a complete equipment of adequate teams and 

 tools. The equipment of farm buildings and of accessory small ma- 

 chinery varies largely in the different areas where the Knox silt loam 

 has been encountered. In the more northern areas where dairying and 

 the production of corn, oats, and grass dominate the type, the equip- 

 ment of farm buildings is more complete and the buildings themselves 

 are usually larger than in the more southern wheat and tobacco grow- 

 ing areas. In the tobacco regions, in addition to the house and ordi- 

 nary barns, the tobacco barn is also added to the equipment. 



In northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin, and eastern Iowa a con- 

 siderable proportion of the dairy business is based upon the crops 

 grown upon the Knox silt loam and upon the pasturage afforded by 

 its more sloping areas. The type is usually well watered, the crops 

 adapted to it are well suited to animal feeding, and the climate is 

 favorable to dairy operations. The crop-producing capacity of the 



